In 2014, I created my first website to offer my services as a German to English translator. Before I launched it, I thought to myself:
“This might not work.”
I was right. It didn’t.
Later that year, I wrote my first blog post. Before I pressed publish, I thought:
“This might not work.”
I was right. Almost no one read it.
One month after that, I tried being an online coach and making money online for the first time ever. I was pretty sure that…
“This might not work.”
But it did. Even if my first payment was just $7.50 USD.
The next February, I decided to record a series of videos with comfort zone challenges. I made myself do uncomfortable things in front of the camera. Before I released it, I thought:
“This might not work.”
It did and it didn’t. Not many people signed up, but it got me featured as a coach and brought in new clients.
In May 2015 I started a course to build my email list. One of the first tasks was to run a giveaway. When I selected the prize, I thought:
“This might not work.”
I was right. Over $400 spent for 115 new email subscribers. Ugh!
Later that year, I pitched a high-profile blogger in my niche a guest post I’d completely written for him already, without asking for permission first. There was a decent chance he wouldn’t take it.
“This might not work.”
He accepted it and it’s showed 1000s of people who I am since.
I could go on forever, but you get the point.
The answer to your question is not debating, not deliberating, not dwelling, not deciding and not disputing.
It’s doing. Doing things, all the time. Things that might not work. Sometimes they will. And sometimes they won’t.
But every time you find yourself thinking: “This might not work” go ahead and do it anyway.
That’s how you teach yourself to survive failure. By failing. And surviving. How do I know?
Because once upon a time, a guy named Seth Godin went out on a limb and said:
